Claudio

Now comes the interesting part, at least for me... the Schatzkammer (or also the Treasure Hall or Crown all): First of all, lots of highlights for Prussia's fans: the crown of Prussia (1.5 kg of Gold), the tobacco boxes, the original uniform and hat of "der alte Fritz" (Federick II, King of Prussia aka Frederick the Great) with the tobacco box which saved the king's live in the battle of Kunesdorf (although this fact it is quite debated by historians) ... Unfortunately I couldn't take many pictures, because it was forbidden, but I could manage to take some pictures of the amazing order collection, most of them were the original orders and medals of the first Emperor of the 2nd Reich, Wilhelm I "der Grosse". The bad thing about the guided tour is that, when you arrive at the end of the tour in the treasure hall, you are allowed to stay there just 5-10 minutes time.

Dear forumites, I just wanted to show a couple of pictures of my visit of the "Burg Hohenzollern" in Hechingen (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenzollern_Castle and their official website http://www.burg-hohenzollern.com/startpage.html ). It is highly recommendable for all military and history enthusiasts and students. Enjoy the pictures... ciao, Claudio

Thanks for posting your nice pictures! ;-)

Dear forumites, Here I'd like to show a pretty surely less known commemorative medal for the Centenary of the Garde Füsilier Regiment's foundation, which their nickname (Spitzname) was "Maikäfer" (in English "Maybug, Melolontha melolontha"). see also: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/G_FR ; http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garde-Füsilier-Regiment ; http://www.diekrugsammler.de/html/maikafer.html ; http://www.deutsche-kriegsgeschichte.de/maikfreg.html Please feel free to post pictures of soldiers of this regiment in this thread! ;-) ciao, Claudio

Wow Glenn, that was quick... Thanks! Also thank you Paul for your confirmation... Any information on his pre-1914 or WWI service? C

... I think it might be a KM Officer with that Chilean awards in the end... ;-)

Dear forumites, I am particularly proud to show you my latest purchase... I think some of you have already seen it before . Here's the description of the medals (according to the seller): Preußen: eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, 1914; Königlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern, RK mit Schwertern (Stempel „S&W”, Silbermarken und „937“); Hessen-Darmstadt: allgemeines ehrenzeichen „für Tapferkeit“; Lippe-detmold: Kriegsverdienstkreuz, an Band für Kämpfer, 1914 – 1918; S Schaumburg- Lippe: Kreuz für treue Dienste, am Kämpferband, 1914 – 1917; 3. Reich: Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer; Weimarer republik: schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen 2. Stufe; Preußen: DA-Kreuz für 25 dienstjahre der Offiziere, 5. Form; 3. Reich: RAD DA 4. stufe für 4 Dienstjahre; Preußen: Zentenarmedaille, 1897; Ungarn: Weltkriegserinnerungsmedaille 1914 – 1918 mit Schwertern; Bulgarien: Weltkriegserinnerungsmedaille 1915 – 1918; Chile: Silberkreuz des National-Verdienstordens; Chile: Zentenarmedaille der Republik, 1910 Enjoy... I appreciate all comments or thought on this mega bar. ciao, Claudio

I hope you won't kill me if you see me in Gunzenhausen! C

Dear Paul, On his neck he has the Rumanian Order of Queen Maria given for civil and military medical personnel instituted in 1917 (Commander grad) After the Hindenburg Cross I see the ribbon of the Order of the Star of Rumania with swords (officer or knight grade, impossible to tell without a "rosette", which very rarely was used on German ribbons), the 5th ribbon looks like the Order of Queen Maria but not quite totally correct, the 6th ribbon looks like the Rumanian medal of Cultural Merit (literature), the 7th ribbon is quite clearly the one for the medal of the crusade against communism and last but not least the Ottoman War Medal or also not quite correctly called "Gallipoli Star" or Iron Crescent form the German Eiserner Halbmond http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Star_(Ottoman_Empire) Here are all the ribbons depicted in a very clear and structured way: http://www.medals.pl/ro/ro1.htm I am afraid, like Paul said, that it would be quite a long shot to identify such non-professional (reserve) officer. Maybe Antti (Ruokonen), the author of the book about Rumanian Orders and Medals, might have some numbers or even know where to find rolls of the Order of Queen Maria... I don't think that many of this order have been awarded to German Luftwaffe personnel who achieved also some Cultural merits (writer?) towards Rumania. ciao, Claudio

Rest in peace dear Rick! We are already missing you so much... You have left your mark here and you won't be replaced so easely. My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. Claudio

I also don't get it from the Germans... so perfectionists, but in the end not so perfect... no first names... there were quite a lot of these: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_häufigsten_Familiennamen_in_Deutschland also back then!!! ...Maybe in the next 20 years there will be more other names like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_name

Thanks for your nice comments and your efforts ... I knew that this wouldn't have been so "easy"...

Amazing! How you can do that?

Hi Paul! I am inclined to think too, that Rick might have the "solution"... Ciao, C

Dear Forumites, dear Rick, dear research gnomes! Here I have a bar in my possession, which is complete of photograph of the wearer, but alas not of his name! Maybe it can be identified thanks to the oval silver duke Carl Eduard's medal with swords date (18.10.1914, Wolga/Wolra? hard to decipher, but quite possibly the site name must be located in the Eastern front, Poland?). Here's the description of the bar and some detailled pictures: Preußen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, 1914 (OEK 1909), E/S mit Wiederholungsspange „1939“ zum EK 2. Kl. 1914 Halbminiatur (OEK 3825/1) Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, Ovale silberne Herzog Carl Eduard-Medaille mit Schwerterspange „1915“ und Datumspange für erneute tapferer Handlung mit Datum 18.10.1914 (OEK 2688/1), S Sächsische Herzogtümer, SEHO Medaille Herzog Carl Eduard in Silber mit Schwerterspange „1914“ für Kriegsverdienst (OEK 2550) Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer (OEK 3803/1) Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 (OEK 3517), Br Ungarn, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille Very likely in WWI was a senior NCO, Feldwebel-Leutnant or even a leutnant d.R. when the war finished. Obviously in WWII was recalled to duty to be assigned to some administrative duties. Thanks for looking into this matter and any comments are most appreciated! ciao, Claudio

his medal bar....

Very, very nice bar... these Mecklenburg LS awards are scarcely seen on bars... but such a complete documented set, it's quite unique. So many things have been lost or irreducibly taken apart. Therefore to see such a complete group it's always nice and let hope all of us, that there aren't so few of them left or even better, groups that have been split and are being pulled together again by very conscientious fellow collectors and history enthusiasts, who have fortunately the financial means (yes, it is quite an expensive hobby), patience and knowledge to do so. Congrats!

very, very nice! It's incredible how long he has live (for that time) and saw so many things changing is life... Thanks for showing!

Don't worry Rick, I wasn't planning to... I never thought that that group could be researchable... ciao, Claudio

Amazing research work... I will put mine too... Maybe some of the forumites have already seen it; it has been in my collection for more than 20 years and 18 years after I found the ribbon bar which went with. A fellow collector had the ribbon bar in the collection and I immediately recognized the combination and also the label on the back... Enjoy... ciao, Claudio

Hi Rick, It's exactly what I thought when you came up with this list... the only way to find him it is to search in the archives... Too bad, that I am currently in Moscow!

What a great coincedence to find a photo of original owner... after so long... way to go!!!!

Hi guys! Thanks a lot for your efforts... I feel bad to have given you so much trouble. It looks like such a research can be successfull if I would spend ours at the local archives (Baden) and even if that is possible, it won't be sure that I could be able to find him. These NCO bars are great, but what a pain to be researched! Thanks anyway! Claudio

Hi Dave! Great job!!! Let me know if you need any help to transcribe (typing up) any of these lists (like Anhalt Friedrichskreuz), I'd be happy to help. ciao, Claudio

Yeah... I am running out of bars... ONLY 557 BZ4K's!!! I didn't know that... but easily immaginable...